Product description

A new book of sketches, artwork, and personal reflection from the brilliant mind of award-winning, bestselling author and illustrator Shaun Tan.
"I'm often wary of using the word 'inspiration' to introduce my work -- it sounds too much like a sun shower from the heavens, absorbed by a passive individual enjoying an especially receptive moment. While that may be the case on rare occasions, the reality is usually far more prosaic. Staring at a blank piece of paper, I can't think of anything original. I feel utterly uninspired and unreceptive. It's the familiar malaise of 'artist's block' and in such circumstances there is only one thing to do: just start drawing." -- Shaun Tan
And when Shaun Tan starts drawing, the results are stunning. In THE BIRD KING: AN ARTIST'S NOTEBOOK, we find a window into the creative process: the stops and starts, the ideas that never took off, and the ones that grew into something much bigger. Fans of THE ARRIVAL will recognize the quirky, surreal sensibility that is so distinctly Shaun Tan in this stunning collection, and gain insight into how his many gorgeous books were made.

Author information

Shaun Tan is the author and illustrator of the award-winning, bestselling graphic novel THE ARRIVAL, and also TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA, a collection of illustrated short stories. Both books were named to the New York Times list of Best Illustrated Children's Books. He won an Oscar for his short film "The Lost Thing" based on a story in the book LOST & FOUND: THREE BY SHAUN TAN, and he is also the recipient of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Shaun Tan lives in Melbourne, Australia.

Customer reviews

Reviewed by Avery, age 9
I could not get enough of this book. I LOVED it so much and was super-excited to find out Shaun Tan has more books like this. This book is exactly what the title says: "an artist's notebook." Each page is filled with something amazing that came from his imagination. It is neat because some of it is downright silly or doesn't make sense, and I like abstract art. I draw all the time and have since I could pick up my first pencil.
...Read Full Review at http://www.musingwithcrayolakym.com/3/post/2013/08/the-bird-king.html

Review quote

Praise for THE ARRIVAL
"A wordless tour de force" -- Time Out New York Kids
"[A]n unashamed paean to the immigrant's spirit, tenacity and guts, perfectly crafted for maximum effect." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Filled with both subtlety and grandeur, the book is a unique work that not only fulfills but also expands the potential of its form." -- Booklist, starred review
A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2007
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2007
An ALA Notable Children's Book, 2008
Praise for TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA
"You almost can't stop yourself from saying 'Wow...' Tan's work overflows with human warmth and childlike wonder." -- New York Times Book Review
"TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA is not quite like anything else, and that's perhaps the best thing of all about it, opening up reading as a sort of strong, wild and individual activity." -- Chicago Tribune
"Graphic-novel and text enthusiasts alike will be drawn to this breathtaking combination of words and images." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2009
An ALA Notable Children's Book, 2010
Praise for LOST & FOUND: THREE BY SHAUN TAN
"Shaun Tan rocks my retinas... The book is gorgeously designed, the stories are evocative and mysterious, and every page of Tan's paintings -- I can't bring myself to call them mere illustrations -- commands long moments of study." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Shaun Tan creates a landscape part Bosch, part Lewis Carroll, narrates with a young, quiet voice, and, once again, makes a book like no one else's." -- Chicago Tribune
An ALA Notable Children's Book, 2012